Do plant communities exist? Evidence from scaling‐up local species‐area relations to the regional level

摘要: One long tradition in ecology is that discrete com- munities exist, at least the sense there are areas of relatively uniform vegetation, with more rapid change species composition between them. The alternative extreme view Self-similarity concept - similar community variation occurs all spatial scales. We test these two by calculating species-area curves within vegeta- tion as can be found, and then extrapolating within-community to much larger areas, will contain many 'communities'. Using Arrhenius species- area model, extrapolations remarkably close observed number regional/country level. conclude type heterogeneity 'homogeneous' communities sufficient explain richness Therefore, whilst we speak 'communities' for convenience, certainly exists 'community' level seen only a larger- scale manifestation micro-habitat variation.